Gardening Plants & Flowers Shrubs

30 Best Shrubs for Shade in Your Yard

Low-Maintenance and Flowering Shrubs to Plant in Shady Areas

Shrubs That Love the Shade

The Spruce / Catherine Song

Shade-loving shrubs can add color and cheer to canopy-covered areas of your property. It can be difficult to find plants that thrive in the shade, but there are plenty of different options for gardeners.

Ranging from short bushes to tall hedges, shade-loving shrubbery can be evergreen or deciduous. Some shade-tolerant shrubs produce beautiful blossoms, while others are famous for their attractive foliage. Many offer year-round appeal and low maintenance, making them perfect for shady yards where sun-loving plants simply cannot thrive.

Learn about 30 shrubs for shade that will spruce up your lawn and garden.

Best Shrubs for Shade

  • 01 of 30

    Azalea and Rhododendron (Rhododendron)

    Azalea and rhododendron shrub with white blooms clustered together near large leaves closeup

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Azaleas and rhododendrons are woody, usually evergreen shrubs. Most species of rhododendron produce beautiful spring blooms in brilliant shades. They grow in many different climates in full and dappled shade. Unless your soil is already heavily acidic, fertilize yearly with an acid-enhanced fertilizer in late winter or early spring.

    • Best for: Colorful flowers in dappled shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 8b depending on the variety
    • Mature Size: Height: 6 to 10 ft.; Width: 5 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, pink, yellow, purple, red
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic soil
  • 02 of 30

    Common Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

    Common boxwood shrub with dense light-green leaves

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Common Boxwood is the evergreen shrub most often used for hedges and topiaries.​ A classic plant for formal landscape design, it boasts dense light-green leaves and a compact shape and adapts to partial shade. English boxwood shrubs grow to about three feet, but their slow growth makes it easy to keep them pruned and looking pristine.

    • Best for: Low-maintenance growth
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5a to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 5 to 20 ft.; Width: 5 to 15 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Does not bloom
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
  • 03 of 30

    Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris)

    Climbing hydrangea shrub on wooden fence with small white flowers

    The Spruce / Loren Probish

    As their name suggests, climbing hydrangeas are deciduous vines, but they can be trimmed and maintained as a shrub. Naturally peeling bark on their stems provides winter interest. They tolerate shaded areas, but they tend to yield better flowering displays when exposed to a reasonable amount of sunlight.

    • Best for: Fences or trellises and fall leaf color
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 30 to 60 ft. to; Width: 5 to 6 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, blue, pink, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-draining
  • 04 of 30

    Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

    Mountain laurel plant with white flower clusters with small pink dots and pink buds

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    A native plant in eastern North America, mountain laurels natural habitat is shady woodland areas. Cultivars have been developed for use in the landscape, including the dwarf "Minuet" laurel, which has more vibrant flowers than those on wild mountain laurels. Where soil is not sufficiently acidic, fertilize with an acid-enhanced fertilizer, like that used for azaleas and rhododendrons.

    • Best for: Colorful blooms
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 4 to 15 ft.; Width: 4 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Rose, pink, white; blooms may have purple markings
    • Sun Exposure: Prefers part shade, but can tolerate full sun
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-draining
    Continue to 5 of 30 below
  • 05 of 30

    Japanese Rose (Kerria japonica)

    Japanese rose shrub with yellow fluffy flowers in sunlight closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Japanese rose is one of the most shade-tolerant deciduous shrubs available and will do better than survive in shade. This bush flowers in spring and may bloom multiple times in partial shade. The bark is kelly green to greenish-yellow throughout the winter. It is a fast grower and can reach 7 feet. Seriously overgrown shrubs can be revived by cutting them all the way back to the ground in the fall.

    • Best for: Colorful blooms
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 3 to 7 ft.; Width: 6 to 9 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-draining
  • 06 of 30

    Carol Mackie Daphne (Daphne x Burkwoodii)

    Daphne × burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’
    kongxinzhu / Getty Images

    As with climbing hydrangeas, Carol Mackie daphne shrubs will bloom more prolifically if the plants receive sufficient sunlight. But, these plants are worth growing for their variegated leaves alone. Daphnes do not like acidic soil; add lime to help neutralize soil that is too acidic.

    • Best for: Striking foliage and aromatic blooms
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5a to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 2 to 3 ft.; Width: 2 to 3 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White to light pink
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining, neutral pH

    Warning

    Both the berries and leaves are toxic and should not be eaten. They may also irritate the skin. Do not plant Daphne shrubs where children or pets have access.

  • 07 of 30

    Emerald 'n' Gold Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei)

    Emerald and gold euonymus shrub with yellow and green bi-colored leaves

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    Emerald 'n' Gold euonymus has bi-colored gold and green leaves. The gold color gets brighter with sun exposure, but this shrub does well in partial shade. There are many kinds of euonymus. One is quite notorious as an invasive plant, the winged spindle tree. Euonymus can be a very fast-growing plant and can be controlled with hard pruning in the spring.

    • Best for: Striking foliage and fall color
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 1 to 2 ft.; Width: 3 to 4 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Insignificant white spring bloom
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist and well-drained
  • 08 of 30

    Hetz Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)

    Hetz Japanese holly shrub branch with black berries closeup

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    One of two popular shade-tolerant Japanese hollies, the Hetz holly has smaller leaves than American and English hollies, giving it the nickname "box-leaved." The berries of this plant are black, unlike the familiar red berries on other hollies. Like boxwoods, Hetz's Japanese holly can be closely sheared to form shaped hedges.

    • Best for: Privacy
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5a to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 5 to 10 ft.; Width: 5 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Insignificant white spring bloom
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
    Continue to 9 of 30 below
  • 09 of 30

    Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata)

    Ilex crenata Sky Pencil, a narrow, columnar bush.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Sky Pencil holly is an architectural plant and a variety of Japanese holly with a distinctive tall, columnar shape. Sky Pencil, with its smooth-edged leaves, works well in corners and tight spaces. Its black berries attract a wide range of birds. Unlike some hollies, this one does not require much pruning, but if you do choose to trim it, do so in winter, when the shrub is dormant.

    • Best for: Shady corners and small spaces
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5a to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 4 to 10 ft.; Width: 1 to 3 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Insignificant white spring bloom
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
  • 10 of 30

    Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

    Canadian hemlock shrub with single trunk and needle-like leaves hanging from branches

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    A type of needled evergreen, hemlocks can be trimmed to promote the development of dense foliage making them great for privacy screens. The smaller cultivars of this tree make terrific hedges. In the northern end of the hardiness range, hemlocks appreciate a thick layer of much over their roots in winter.

    • Best for: Privacy screens
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3a to 7b
    • Mature Size: Height: 40 to 70 ft.; Width: 25 to 35 ft.
    • Color Varieties: No bloom but interesting bark
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, moist, and loamy
  • 11 of 30

    Yews (Taxus genus)

    Yews shrub with needle-like leaves and small red berry-like cones hidden between branches

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Yews are one of the plants used in Christmas traditions. These needled evergreens are valued for their showy, red, berry-like cones and as shrubs that grow in shade. There are many cultivars and the versatility of these tough plants makes them popular for landscaping. Yews should be trimmed in early summer to keep the shape attractive.

    • Best for: Privacy screens
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 7b
    • Mature Size: Height: 10 to 25 ft.; Width: 5 to 10 ft.
    • Color Varieties: No significant blooms but bright red fruit
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist and loamy

    Warning

    Yews are toxic plants. Do not plant if you have children or pets that live or frequent your garden.

  • 12 of 30

    Andromeda (Pieris japonica)

    Andromeda shrub with small pink flowers and buds on thin branches in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This shade-tolerant shrub is fragrant, flowering shrub and evergreen. Different cultivars offer white or pale pink flowers and new growth is also colorful. Feeding is best done with an acid fertilizer, such as that used for azaleas.

    • Best for: Fragrant flowers, acidic soil
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4b to 8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 8 to 10 ft.; Width: 6 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
    Continue to 13 of 30 below
  • 13 of 30

    African Scurf Pea (Psoralea pinnata)

    African Scurf Pea
     Rebecca Johnson/Getty Images

    African scurf pea produces lilac-blue flowers that may remind you of sweet pea with the fragrance of grape soda. The foliage, which looks something like rosemary, has a fine texture. The plant is short-lived and can become straggly unless pruned to maintain an attractive shape. It can self-seed.

    • Best for: Fragrant flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 9-11
    • Mature Size: Height: 6 to 10 ft.; Width 3 to 6 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Lilac, light blue
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
  • 14 of 30

    Alder-Leaved Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

    Saskatoon serviceberry

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Serviceberry trees and shrubs are members of the Rosaceae family, which includes roses and many flowering, fruiting trees and shrubs. Deciduous serviceberries are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Clusters of white flowers appear in spring followed by edible purple-blue fruit. It can be prone to rust and powdery mildew fungus; so good air circulation is required to minimize these problems.

    • Best for: Showy flowers, fall fruit, and survival in deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a-9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 3 to 18 ft.; Width: 6 to 10 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Shade or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral, well-drained
  • 15 of 30

    Alpine Currant (Ribes alpinum)

    Alpine currant

    Liisa-Maija Harju / Flickr / CC By 2.0

    Alpine currant is a European native that features bright green foliage. It is often used to create a border or hedge. You will need both male and female plants for this small, dioecious shrub to produce its berries, which are ornamental rather than edible.

    These shrubs are easy to maintain for shape, as they can be pruned at any time.

    • Best for: Showy flowers, fall fruit, and survival in deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a-9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 3 to 18 ft.; Width: 6 to 10 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Shade or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral, well-drained
  • 16 of 30

    Gold Dust Plant (Aucuba japonica)

    Aucuba

    PAVEL IARUNICHEV / Getty Images

    Aucuba also called gold dust plant, is a rounded evergreen shrub with colorful leaves. If you have both male and female plants it will produce red berries in the fall. Aucuba can grow up to 15 feet tall with glossy elliptical leaves. Tiny spring flowers usually bloom in early spring.

    • Best for: Showy foliage, fall fruit, survival in deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7a-10b
    • Mature Size: Height: 6 to 10 ft.; Width: 4 to 6 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Insignificant flowers
    • Sun Exposure: Deep shade or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral, does well in any type of soil
    Continue to 17 of 30 below
  • 17 of 30

    California Sweetshrub (Calycanthus occidentalis)

    Calycanthus occidentalis

    Andrei Stanescu / Getty Images

    California Sweetshrub is a low-maintenance deciduous shrub that produces a pleasant fragrance. Often used to control erosion along creeks and riverbanks, it's a good choice for areas frequented by deer because they avoid it. Pruning is best done by removing old, overgrown stems all the way to ground level, rather than by pruning the tips of branches.

    • Best for: Fragrant flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 6s-9b
    • Mature Size: 6 to 12 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Dark red, purplish brown
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral, well-drained
  • 18 of 30

    Camellia (Camellia sinensis)

    Camellia shrub with bright red ruffled flowers surrounded by glossy leaves closeup

    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    Camellia sinensis is also known as a tea plant because its leaves and twigs can be used to make a fragrant tea. But if you are growing it for ornamental purposes, you will be more interested in its glossy foliage, fragrant fall flowers, easy maintenance, and long life.

    • Best for: Showy flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 6a-9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 6 to 15 ft.; Width: 4 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
  • 19 of 30

    Canadian Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

    Canadian bunchberry shrub with a four-petaled white flower surrounded by large green leaves closeup

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Canadian Bunchberry is a subshrub that you can use as a ground cover for damp, shady areas. A relative of the dogwood, it produces similar blossoms that give it nicknames such as "creeping dogwood" and "bunchberry dogwood." It is an ideal choice for cold, damp areas where other shrubs may struggle to survive. Mulching with peat moss will help provide the acidity this plant craves.

    • Best for: Ground cover in dappled shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2a-6b
    • Mature Size: 6 in. to 1 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, red berries
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
  • 20 of 30

    Checkerberry (Gaultheria procumbens)

    Checkerberyy shrub with dark green leaves with bright red berries

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Checkerberry is also known as American wintergreen with mint-scented leaves and edible, red berries that taste like wintergreen gum. A tiny shrub often just three inches tall, it can be used as a ground cover in acidic soil.

    • Best for: Deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3a-7b
    • Mature Size: Height: 4 to 8 in.; Width: 6 in. to 1 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Insignificant blooms, red berries
    • Sun Exposure: Deep shade to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
    Continue to 21 of 30 below
  • 21 of 30

    Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)

    Chinese fringe-flower shrub with pink fringe-like flowers on stall stems with leaves

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Chinese fringe flower is an evergreen shrub also known as Chinese witch hazel. Like witch hazel, it has fringe-like flowers that bloom very early in the spring. Chinese fringe flower has a spreading form and can grow up to 12 feet in height. Its foliage is usually green, though some varieties feature purple leaves.

    • Best for: Showy spring flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7b-9b
    • Mature Size: 6 to 8 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, pink, red, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
  • 22 of 30

    Coast Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris)

    Coast Leucothoe

    KENPEI/Wikimedia Commons/CC By 2.0

    Coast Leucothoe produces urn-shaped bunches of small flowers that are similar to those on Pieris japonica; in fact, the two bushes belong to the same family (Ericaceae). This weeping evergreen shrub is native to the U.S. and is often used in place of boxwood for hedges and boundaries.

    • Best for: Showy flowers, fall fruit, and survival in deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 45a-9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 3 to 4 ft.; Width: 4 to 6 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Shade or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic

    Warning

    All parts of the plant are toxic if consumed.

  • 23 of 30

    Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

    Witch hazel shrub stem with yellow string-like flowers closeup

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Witch hazel is a tall shrub that will add late winter color to your garden with fragrant flowers appearing as early as mid-March in most locations. A vase-shaped plant, it grows to tree height if not kept pruned. You can make extracts from the witch hazel shrub to harness the plant's astringent properties.

    • Best for: Early spring flowers, deer-resistant
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3a-9b
    • Mature Size: Height: 15 to 30 ft.; Width: 15 to 20 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, cream, tan, gold, yellow, red, burgundy
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
  • 24 of 30

    Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)

    Dwarf fothergilla flowering shrub with white bottlebrush-like flowers closeup

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Dwarf fothergilla is a deciduous flowering shrub known for its fluffy flowers in spring and fall leaf colors. In spring, this shrub is tipped with 1- to 3-inch-long flowers that look like bottlebrushes and smell a bit like licorice. The leaves are dark green on top and bluish-gray on the bottom.

    • Best for: Showy, fragrant flowers, fall color
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5a-8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 1 ft, 6 in. to 3 ft.; Width: 2 to 4 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Dabbled sunlight or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic
    Continue to 25 of 30 below
  • 25 of 30

    Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

    Red buckeye shrub with bright pink flower stalks growing from branches against blue sky

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Also known as the firecracker plant, red buckeye attracts hummingbirds with its bright red color. It will grow in all types of soil and can be maintained as a shrub or a tree.

    • Best for: Showy flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4a-8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 15 to 25 ft.; Width: 10 to 20 ft.
    • Color Varieties: Orange, red, burgundy
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral

    Warning

    All parts of the red buckeye are toxic to humans and pets.

  • 26 of 30

    Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

    Red tip photinia shrub with young red leaves with small white flower clusters

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Red tip photinia is an evergreen shrub that produces young red leaves, while older leaves are green. It is an excellent low-maintenance shrub for hedges and privacy screens and can also be shaped as a small specimen tree. However, it is susceptible to Entomosporium leaf spot.

    • Best for: Privacy hedge
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7a-8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 10 to 20 ft.; Width: 5 to 10 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White flowers
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Alkaline
  • 27 of 30

    Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

    Japanese skimmia shrub with small white flower cluster heads on dark brown stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Japanese skimmia is slow-growing and will produce white flowers and red fruit if you have both a male and a female plant. It is a broadleaf evergreen with greenish bark, leathery green leaves, fragrant flowers, and berries. While pruning isn't essential, light pruning during the dormant season can keep the plant neat.

    • Best for: Showy flowers, fall fruit, and survival in deep shade
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7a-8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 2 to 7 ft.; Width: 3 to 5 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, cream
    • Sun Exposure: Shade or partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral or acidic

    Warning

    All parts of the skimmia plant are toxic.

  • 28 of 30

    California Holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

    California Holly

    Andrei Stanescu / Getty Images

    California holly, also called toyon or Christmas berry, is the shrub some credit with giving Hollywood its name.​ It's indigenous to California, drought-resistant, and has small flowers that produce red berries. All these qualities make it a favorite plant for California xeriscaping.

    • Best for: Bright red fall fruit
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7-11
    • Mature Size: Height: 15-20 ft 
    • Color Varieties: White flowers, bright red berries
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Neutral
    Continue to 29 of 30 below
  • 29 of 30

    Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

    Tree peony shrub with large light yellow flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The tree peony is a deciduous sub-shrub that blooms in mid-to late spring. It produces big, beautiful peony flowers in many different shades. Tree peonies are good border or hedge plants with attractive foliage and blooms. This is a different plant from the Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora), a perennial, although the two share certain traits.

    • Best for: Showy flowers
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4-7
    • Mature Size: 3 to 6 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White, gold, yellow, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Alkaline, well-drained
  • 30 of 30

    Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

    Arrowwood viburnum shrub branch with blue berries closeup

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Viburnum species can give your garden color in multiple seasons with a variety of colored flowers, fruit, and interesting foliage. The arrowwood species is an excellent choice for shade. They have clusters of flowers in spring and produce both red fall foliage and blue berries in fall. They can grow up to 10 feet and are equally as wide.

    • Best for: Spring flowers and fall fruit
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2a-8b
    • Mature Size: Height: 5 to 10 ft.; Width: 6 to 10 ft.
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic to neutral
FAQ
  • What is the fastest-growing shrub for shade?

    If you are dealing with a shady spot, a viburnum is your best choice. For partial shade, choose Arrowhead Viburnum, (Viburnum dentatum), and for deep shade, a Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Viburnums are moderate- to fast-growing plants. They can grow from 1 to 2 feet per year.

  • Can I grow any kind of shrubs in full shade?

    Yes! There are shade-loving shrubs for every hardiness zone. Good choices are Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), Coralberry and Snowberry (Symphoricarpos species), Yew (Taxus), Black jetbead (Rhodotypos scandens), Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica), Laurel (Kalmia), and Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa).

  • Can hydrangeas grow in full shade?

    The familiar pink and blue mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) will not thrive or bloom in full shade. However, Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala) provides all of the beauty of a traditional hydrangea bush in a vine form that will tolerate full or partial shade.

  • Do azaleas like shade?

    Azaleas thrive in partial shade. They are the perfect companion plant for pine trees because they enjoy the same acid soil for vigorous growth. When choosing azaleas to add to your landscape, it is important to consider whether the cultivar is apropriate to your hardiness zone and planting site. Azaleas prefer light to moderate shade.

Originally written by
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. A Dangerous Garden Thug Exposed: Daphne Laureola. Master Gardeners Association of British Columbia.

  2. Clinical Toxicology of Yew PoisoningAnnals of Pharmacotherapy, vol. 52.

  3. Amelanchier alnifolia. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  4. Leucothoe axillaris. North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox

  5. Hamamelis virginiana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas.

  6. Fothergilla gardenii. North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

  7. Red Buckeye. University of Kentucky, Department of Horticulture.

  8. Photinia (Red Tip). Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center.

  9. Japanese Skimmia. Washington State University Extension PNW Plants.